Prawns varattiyathu

This prawn varattiyathu or inji chemmeen is again one of my Mom's dishes & my husband's favourite..she makes it without fail every time her son-in-law visits her. I dont remember how many times i must've made this either with fresh or frozen prawns; but when i have the one that she makes, it tastes so much better ..i guess thats what mom's love is all about !

my mom prefers to call it inji chemmeen 'cos it uses more ginger than anything else..its very simple to make ..with minimum ingredients u might wonder 'oh thats all is it done?'



Ingredients:

1. prawns (cleaned & deveined) - 250 gms
2. chilly powder - 2 tsps
3. turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
4. salt to taste
5. ginger - 2 tbsp (finely chopped)
6. green chilly - 1 chopped
7. curry leaves - 7-8
8. coconut oil - 2 tsp

Method :

• cook prawns with 1/2 tsp chilly powder, turmeric powder & salt.
• Heat oil in a pan. throw in the ginger, green chillies & curry leaves.fry for a little while.
• Add remaining chilly powder & saute till the raw smell goes.
• now add prawns with the water (if any) & mix well. Fry for 2 more mts.
• spicy prawns r ready ..enjoy !
  

..a dinner menu..

..last weekend we had a few guests for dinner . i decided to try something from blog friends contributions. so i started serching for recipes. & finally zeroed in on the following:

micro veg pulao (which i've already posted)
kadai chicken (maheswari's beyond the usual)
prawn balchao
palak raitha
raw pappaya salad (thai dish)
Banana pudding (Asha's foodie hope) (forgot to take a picture !)

Kadai chicken i must say was simply superb ..i've tried recipes from her blog even before she is a chicken specialist. and for Asha's pudding i got loads of compliments esp from my 'Jeeju'. Thanks to Maheswari & Asha for such amazing recipes..for more of Maheswari's recipes click http://www.publishtoday.blogspot.com/

for Asha's recipes http://www.aromahope.blogspot.com/

Maheswari's Kadai Chicken


Prawn balchao recipe i shall post a lil' later..

Raw pappaya salad:

this is a Thai dish..very refreshing..

Ingredients:

1.Raw pappaya (grated) - 3 cups

2.peanuts(coarsely ground) - 1 cup

3.green chillies - 2(chopped)

4.tomato - 1 (chopped)

5.tamarind juice - 1 tbsp

6.lemon juice - 1 tsp

7.sugar - 2 tbsp

8.soya sauce - 1 tbsp

9.chopped coriander - 2 tbsp

10.salt to taste

Method:

Mix all ingredients together & serve chilled..!!

Palak Raitha:

very simple. healthy for children as well as adults who hate spinach.

Ingredients:
1. Spinach - 1 small bunch
2. yoghurt - 1 cup
3. chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
4. roasted cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
5. black salt - a pinch
6. salt to taste

Method:
Whisk together curd, red chilly powder, roasted cumin powder, black salt & salt. Chill in the refrigerator.
Take spinach leaves in a small bowl. Blanch in MW for a minute or 2
Let spinach cool.Put in a blender & make a puree.
Before serving add the spinach puree to curd mix well & serve.

Crab curry

This is my mom's speciality. when she makes it, it tastes heavenly. Over the years i have also mastered it .

Ingredients:

Crab (cleaned with shells intact) - 1 kg
grated coconut - 1 1/2 cups
roasted & ground coriander seeds (varutha malli podi) - 3 tbspn
shallots - handful
green chillies - 3-4 chopped
ginger - 1 inch piece chopped
curryleaves - 1 or 2 sprigs
chilly powder - 1 1/2 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
mustard seeds - 1 tsp
coconut oil - 2 tbspn
salt to taste

Method:


Fry coconut in a non-stick pan till it turns light brown. let it cool. make a paste of it adding a little water. keep aside.
chop shallots & keep side .
Heat oil in a deep pan. Add mustard seeds & let it crackle. Add shallots, ginger, green chillies & curry leaves. Fry for a couple of minutes till the raw smell goes.
Add chilly powder, turmeric powder , roasted coriander powder. fry for a couple of minutes . take care not to burn it.
Add crabs with salt & little water for the crabs to cook.Close the lid & bring the curry to boil.( Add little water in the beginning .You may add more in the end if the curry is too thick.)
Now add fried coconut paste .Mix well .Bring it to a boil again. Lower the flame close lid & let it cook .
once the crabs are cooked the curry is ready.

ps: you may vary the amount of chilly powder & green chillies according to your palate .